(A) System performance.
(1) A franchisee shall comply with all applicable technical standards regarding operation of the cable system, including but not limited to the technical standards set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 76.601.
(2) Whenever it is necessary to shut off or interrupt service for the purpose of making repairs, adjustments, or installations, a franchisee shall do so at times as will cause the least amount of inconvenience to its subscribers, and unless such interruption is unforeseen and immediately necessary, it shall give reasonable notice thereof to its subscribers.
(B) Interconnection.
(1) A franchisee shall design its cable system so that it may be interconnected with other cable systems or similar communications systems in the county and adjacent jurisdictions for purposes of sharing public, educational, and governmental access programming or other governmental transmissions such as emergency alerts.
(2) Upon the request of CCRC, the franchisee shall initiate good-faith negotiations with any other franchisee or operator of a similar communications system to determine the practical economic feasibility of the establishment and operation of an interconnection link and how costs may be shared equally by such franchisees or operators for both construction and operation of such a link.
(3) The interconnection shall be made within 60 days of an order by CCRC to proceed unless, for good cause shown by the franchisee, a reasonable time extension is granted by CCRC.
(C) Parental control. A franchisee shall ensure that any pay-per-view programming can only be activated by the positive action of a subscriber using, for example, a private identification number or other individual selection procedure. A franchisee shall ensure that means are available to enable subscribers to block out audio and video on any undesired channels on the cable system.
(D) Service to multiple dwelling units. No franchisee shall demand the exclusive right to serve a person or location as a condition of extending cable service. No franchisee shall be required to pay any fee to a building owner to provide cable service to any member of the public in any privately owned buildings in the county. Any disputes between a franchisee and a building owner shall be heard and resolved by the CCRC. Each franchisee shall report to the CCRC any building owner who requests a fee from the franchisee as a condition for allowing the franchisee to install a cable system service in the owner’s building.
(E) Continuity of cable service.
(1) If a franchisee transfers its cable system, the franchisee shall cooperate with the County Commissioners and the transferee in maintaining continuity of service to all subscribers, such that, to the extent reasonably possible, subscribers receive continuous uninterrupted service.
(2) If a cable franchise terminates, the franchisee shall cooperate with the County Commissioners and any other providers of cable service in maintaining continuity of service to all subscribers, such that, to the extent reasonably possible, subscribers receive continuous uninterrupted service. This provision shall not be construed to require the franchisee to continue to provide cable service after the termination date.
(2004 Code, § 93-3) (Ord. 41, passed 4-28-1983; Ord. 08-10, passed 12-18-2008)